Response of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to Homa Organic Farming Practices
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Date
2011
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UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment laid out in completely randomised block design with 11
treatments exposed to Homa atmosphere replicated thrice was conducted during
kharif 2010 to study response of tomato (solanum lycopersicum L.) to homa organic
farming practices. The conventional control (CC) and control without Homa (CWH)
were maintained almost 1 km away. The soil type was sandy loamy. All the seedlings
were grown on raised beds, transplanted after one month and were given fresh cow
dung and cow urine as basal treatment except absolute control, CC and CWC. Nonhoma
ash was collected after burning the agricultural waste. Agnihotra homa (AH)
was performed at sun rise and sun set and Om Tryambakam homa (OTH) was
performed for 3-4 h daily during experimental period which yielded smoke and ash.
A special bio-digester called Gloria Biosol was prepared which contained AH ash.
The Non-homa ash, AH ash, OTH ash and Gloria Biosol were used for soil and foliar
application. Soil and foliar application of Gloria Biosol was significantly superior
over organic control in plant height, number leaves, number of branches, root length,
yield attributes, microbial population in the soil, increase in the activities of soil
dehydrogenase (5-52%) and soil phosphatase (2-34%), soil N and K and
micronutrients, Cu and Mn and quality parameters like lycopene (40.69%), phenol
(7.28%), ascorbic acid (49.05%), TSS (10.2%) and total sugar (9.68%) showed
significant increase. Soil and foliar application of AH ash increased soil phosphorus
and micronutrients, Zn and Fe. Shelf life of tomato fruits increased by 7-12 days due
to different homa treatments as compared to organic and conventional control.
Incidence of Leaf spot and insect attack was reduced significantly (37.2% - 40.17%,
respectively) due to soil and foliar application of Gloria Biosol which was superior
over homa ashes and control.
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Keywords
Plant Biochemistry